BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XLI, Issue 4070, 10 February 1874, Page 2

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Monday, Feb. 9. The weekly meeting of the Board was held at 3 p.m. Present—Mr C. C. Bowen (chairman), Messrs J, N. Tosswill, and J. Inglis, The minutes of the previous meeting were read and-confirmed.

A letter was read from Mr Fitzgibbon, chief postmaster, stating that the residents on Kaiapoi Island had applied for the establishment of a post-office, and had recommended Mr Hookham, schoolmaster, for the appointment of postmaster, and asking the Board whether they had any objection to such an appointment being made. The Secretary was instructed to reply in the negative. A letter was read from the chairman of the Southbridge committee, enclosing copies of resolution approving of the plans as amended by the Board, and requesting that steps should be taken for levying a rate to provide the district portion of the cost of the school buildings, which was estimated at £l2O. Infoimation was asked as to whether the household and building rates* could be collected together, and the letter pointed out that the committee had no funds wherewith to pay current expenses. Particulars as to the boundaries of the North Bakaia school district were also requested. The Board sanctioned the acceptance of Messrs Early and Son’s tender at £l2O for the erection of the school buildings, and the Secretary was instructed to state that £25 must be paid into the Treasury by the committee within a fortnight, or a rate will be levied to procure that amount. The sum of £lO was passed for current expenses, and the Secretary was instructed to forward a copy of the proclamation of the boundaries of the South Bakaia district. A letter was read from Mr John Morrison, tendering his resignation of the mastership of the Leithiield school.

The resignation was accepted. The Board sanctioned the appointment of Miss Kiddel, one of the teachers recently arrived from England, to the Rangiora school.

Further correspondence and a telegram was read with respect to the Pareora school site. The Secretary was instructed to' reply that the Board did not understand the new request for the removal of the site southward, that a public meeting of ratepayers in the district had better be held to consider the whole question. A letter was read from the Papanui committee, asking for an increase of salary to the assistant mistress of the school -r- Miss Derritt.

The Board granted an increase to £SO per year, the amount allowed by the scale. A letter was read from the Oxford west committee, recommending the acceptance of Messrs Godfrey and Goodland’s tender at £3BO for the erection of the new school buildings. The Board sanctioned the acceptance of the tender. A letter was read from the Halkett com-.

mittee, asking that 5s per house should ha levied to provide tho district portion of tl, cost of the additions to the school- and stating that, subject to the approval of the Board, Mrs E. Lennox bad been appointed sewing mistress of the school. The secretary was instructed to reply that if £ll is not paid into the treasury oa account of additions to the school within fourteen days, the Superintendent would ha recommended to levy a rate to produce that amoutft. The appointment of Mrs Lennox as sewing mistress was approved. A letter was read from the Geraldine committee, stating that the school has now an average of between 40 and 50, and asking f oc permission to advertise for a master at £ISQ per year and a mistress at £SO.

The secretary was instructed to reply that the average for the December quarter—the best in the year—had only been 39, and that the Board, therefore, could only sanction the appointment of a master at £l5O and a scwicr mistress at £l2 per year, ’ A telegram was read from the Timaru com. mittee, asking the Board to consider the aj), pointment of Miss Forbes as head mistress of the school at the earliest convenience; and also asking if the Board would recommend two male pupil-teachers of advanced acquire, meats.

The secretary was instructed to reply that the Board have received testimonials, but tie certificate, from Miss Forbes, but the Board will sanction an appointment at £l5O p er year, pending the production from England of duplicate of the lost certificate. Tbs secretary was also instructed to request tha committee to advertise for pupil teachers. The Board then adjourned.